Container



2 Feb. 11, 1969 I Y J. B. SIWETTI' CONTAINER Filed March 28, 1966 ISheet INVENTbR.

JAMES B. SWETT Vm/a/M ATTORNEY J. B. SWETT CONTAINER Feb. 11, #969 FiledMarch 28, 1966 FIG.6

FIGS

RN 0 E T m S V ma 8 E M A J ATTORNEY J. B. SWETT Feb. 11, 1969 CONTAINERSheet Filed March 28, 1966 'FIG.9

FIG.8

m W ms W S a S E M A J A TOR EY United States Patent 3,426,935 CONTAINERJames B. Swett, Barriugton, R.I., assignor to Rexall Drug and ChemicalCompany, Los Angeles, Calif., a corporation of DelawareContinuation-impart of application Ser. No. 178,047, Mar. 7, 1962. Thisapplication Mar. 28, 1966, Ser. No. 544,645 US. Cl. 220-42 9 Claims Int.Cl. B65d 11/10, 43/16, 51/04 This application is a continuation-in-partof my previous application Ser. No. 178,047 filed Mar. 7, 1962, nowforfeited.

The present invention is directed to a container for storing cheese,butter or the like in a refrigerator. The container is simple to openand close, easy to clean, provides an effective moisture and odorbarrier for the contents of the container, and enables a rapid andcontinuous cooling of the contents of the container to be effected.

My invention is also directed to a novel seal between the base and coverof the container when such are in closed assembled relationship to eachother so as to avoid loss of moisture from the contents of the containeror permeation of the contents with an undesirable odor or taste.

My invention also provides a mar-resistant base usable as a cuttingboard for the container contents.

My invention further pertains to novel structure pro- 'vided on the baseand cover of the container so as to limit the extent to which the covermay be pivotably swung about the base when such are in an open assembledrelationship to each other.

In the drawings I have shown a present preferred embodiment of myinvention in which:

FIGURE 1 is an exploded perspective of my invention;

FIGURE 2 is an end elevation view of my invention;

FIGURE 3 is a side elevation view of my invention;

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged cross section taken on line 4-4 of FIGURE 3;

FIGURE 5 is a side elevation of my invention with the container open;

FIGURE 6 is an enlarged fragmentary cross section taken on line 6-6 ofFIGURE 2;

FIGURE 7 is an enlarged fragmentary cross section taken on line 7-7 ofFIGURE 4;

FIGURE 8 is a bottom plan view of a modified form of the cover and inparticular Show the extent of its longitudinal opening;

FIGURE 9 is a top plan view of the base and in par ticular shows thelongitudinal extent of the raised supporting surface thereof; and

FIGURE 10 is a pictorial representation of the theoretically deformedshape towards which the cover of FIGURE 8 is urged when such issealingly engaged with the base of FIGURE 9.

Briefly the present invention includes a base and a cover. The base hasa substantially flat, pebbled, upper surface, a downwardly extendingintegral side wall affixed to and extending downwardly from theperiphery of the surface and an outwardly directed flange integral withthe side Wall. Handles are provided at each end of the base. The coverfor the base is a hollow boxshaped member having a top wall and acontinuous integral side wall aflixed to and extending downwardly fromthe periphery of the top wall. The underside of the cover is open. Thelower edge of the side wall of the cover has a continuous outwardlyextending peripheral flange. The cover fits over the base with a lockingengagement since the area of contact between the base and the cover is alocking taper and the opening 3,426,935 Patented Feb. 11, 1969 in thecover is slightly smaller than the portion of the base engaged by thecover.

Referring specifically to the drawings, the base includes a flat topsurface 10 having a pebbled effect 11 which are hemispherical extensionsprotruding slightly above the flat surface and in random orientation asbest shown in FIGURES 1 and 7. The surface 10 has a downwardly directedperipheral wall 12 made up of side walls 12a and end Walls 12b to whichis affixed an outwardly extending peripheral flange 13 which in turn issupported by a downwardly directed continuous leg 14 forming a basewhich engages a supporting surface. This configuration provides rigidityin the base. Preferably the base is fabricated from polypropylene but itmay be fabricated from other plastics which give it a rigidity suitablefor application to my invention.

A handle 15 is located at each of the ends of the base, which handle ispreferably integral with the flange 13. The handles 15 curve upwardlyand outwardly thereby permitting the insertion of the users fingersbeneath the handles for lifting the container from a supporting surface.If the handles extended directly outwardly in the same manner as theflange 13 it would be extremely diflicult to grasp the handle and liftthe container from the supporting surface. The outer curved surface ofthe handles are preferably knurled or provided with ridges for easygrasping by the users fingers.

The cover is a hollow, box-shaped member having a top Wall 16, end walls.17 and side walls 18. The juncture of the walls is preferably roundedto permit easy cleaning of the surface of the cover. A continuous,outwardly extending flange 19 is preferably provided upon the base andis integral with the lower edge of the end walls 17 and side walls 18.This flange extends outwardly substantially the same distance as theflange 13 on the base. The flange 19 is recessed at 20 at both ends ofthe cover to permit the handle 15 to extend above the flange 19 in themanner shown in FIGURES 3 and 6.

The cover may be lifted directly upward off from the base in the mannershown in FIGURE 1 or it may be pivotably swung thereabout as shown inFIGURE 5. It should be particularly noted in FIGURE 5 that the cover isconstructed to swing upwardly about one of the handles 15 and repose ona supporting surface. The extensions of flange 19 on each side of recess20 are also adapted to engage peripheral underportions of the flange 13when the cover is in its open assembled position in such a manner so asto effectively limit the extent to which the cover may be pivotablyswung in relation to the base. The cover is also easily swung downwardlyonto the base from the position shown in FIGURE 5. Furthermore, theinner upper terminus of each handle 15 is adapted to contact outportionsof corresponding cover end walls 17 so as to further effect a limitedpivotal relationship between the cover and base and preferably so as tocoact simultaneously with the aforementioned limited pivotalrelationship between the flanges 13 and 19 especially when the cover isto be maintained in open limited pivotal assembled relation apart from asupporting surface.

The cover is preferably fabricated from regular or low densitypolyethylene thereby giving a flexible resilience to the cover wherebyit may he slipped over the base and the lower inside surface of thewalls .17 and 18 engage against the continuous peripheral wall 12 of thebase. The walls 12a and 12b may be oversize and the opening in thebottom of the cover resultantly must be forcibly pushed :onto the basethereby yielding a seal between the inside surfaces of the walls 17 and18 and the peripheral wall 12 of the base. It should be particularlynoted that the contact area between walls 12a and 12b and walls 17, 18is large, and the taper of the peripheral wall 12 and the inside surfaceof the walls 17 and 18 is a locking taper (about 0.5) thereby insuringthat even when the base is supporting cheese or the like, the top cannotbe shaken off from the base (referred to herein as a non-shake-freefit). The bottom surface of flange 19 also engages the top surface offlange 13 to form a secondary seal between the flanges (and the base andcover).

The pressure contact points for the cover on the base are at the fourcorners of the base. The walls 17 and 18 are tightly stretched betweenthe four corners to maintain the inside surfaces of walls 17 and 18 intaut engagement with base walls 12a and 1211 between the corners therebyyielding an effective seal along the entire peripheral wall 12.

It has been further found that in rectangular cn tainers of the presenttype wherein the side and end walls of the cover are presented forsealing engagement with side and end walls of the base that it becomesextremely difficult to maintain effective side wall sealing engagementwhen the respective side walls are of a longitudinal extent exceedingthat of the respective end walls by at least a 2:1 ratio. Accordinglythe aforementioned structure while satisfactory in most instances doesnot always create effective sealing between the base and cover alonglong side wall extents and especially at the central areas thereof. Toprevent such possible sealing difficulties the longitudinal openingavailable for presentation to the longitudinal extent Y of the elevatedsupporting surface of the base has been diminished to a distance X whichis less than Y. Thus mating engagement of the cover to the base forcesthe end walls 17 of the cover outwardly in the direction of the arrowsin FIG- URE with a resultant inwardly directed force upon the side walls18 thereof. This inward force then urges the side walls into intimateengagement with the base side walls 12a.

Alternatively, the cover side walls 18 can be constructed initially inthe actual form theoretically represented by FIGURE 10 so that theinward bow of such produces effective mating side wall sealingengagement with the base side walls 12a without necessitating aforeshortened longitudinal extent between the cover and walls 17 asillustrated in FIGURES 8 and 9. Also a combination of the two separatelyutilizable effects may be utilized to advantage.

The pebbled surface 11 shown in FIGURE 7 effectively resists marringresulting from using the base as a cutting board for the contents of thecontainer. This surface also aids in minimizing sliding of the contentson the base. When items such as cheese or butter are placed on the base,small vacuums are formed between a flat surface on the item and many ofthe recessed areas between the pebbles on surface 11. This vacuum effectalso aids in minimizing movement of the item on the base. The hollowunderside of the base also permis free flow of cold air therein to morerapidly cool cheese or the like positioned on surface 11.

My invention is particularly directed to the storage of perishables suchas elongated pieces of cheese, butter, meat loaf or the like, but itobviously can be used for other materials.

While I have described the present proposed embodiment of my invention,it may be otherwise embodied within the scope of the following claims:

I claim:

1. A storage container comprising a base having a top supportingsurface, a continuous base flange surrounding said top surface andextending outwardly therefrom, a handle integral with said flange ateither end of the base, a cover for enclosing the top surface of saidbase, said cover having downwardly directed side and end wall portionsproviding an open bottom, a flange integral with said side and end wallportions and extending generally normal thereto and outwardly therefromat said open bottom, said cover flange at either cover end wall portionbeing provided with centrally disposed inset portions and flangeextensions at either side thereof, said handles extending upwardly andoutwardly from said base flange between said cover end wall portionflange extensions, said cover being adapted to pivotally rotate aroundsaid handles from a closed position with said cover engaged with saidbase to an open position wherein said extensions engage with theperipheral portions of said base ends and said cover rests on saidhandle so as to limit the extent to which the cover can be pivotallyrotated.

2. A vapor-tight plastic container for storing perishables and the likein a cool atmosphere, comprising a base having a substantially flat topsurface, a continuous and downwardly directed wall integral with theperiphery of said top surface, said top being unobstructed over itsentire surface, a continuous flange integral with said base wall andextending outwardly therefrom, said base flange being located entirelybelow said top surface of the base, a handle integral with said basewall flange at either end of the base, a cover for enclosing the topsurface of said base, said cover having downwardly directed side and endwall portions providing an open bottom substantially conforming to andslightly smaller than the periphery of said base wall, a flange integralwith said side and end wall portions and extending generally normalthereto and outwardly therefrom at said open bottom, said flange ateither cover end wall portion being provided with a centrally disposedinset portion and flange extensions at either side thereof, said handlesextending upwardly and outwardly from said base flange between saidcover end wall portion flange extensions for ease in grasping, said baseflange and said cover flange engageable in facing abutting relationshipto provide a vapor and air seal between said flanges, said cover beingadapted to pivotally rotate around said handles from a closed positionwith said cover engaged with said base to an open position wherein saidhandles engage with the peripheral portions of said ends and said coverrests on said handle so as to limit the extent to which the cover can bepivotally rotated.

3. A container according to claim 2 wherein the top surface of said flattop is pebbled to resist marring when perishables are cut on the surfaceand to minimize movement of the perishables during cutting.

4. A vapor-tight plastic container for storing perishables and the likein a cool atmosphere, comprising a base having a substantially flat topsurface, a continuous and downwardly directed Wall integral with theperiphery of said top surface, said top being unobstructed over itsentire surface, a continuous flange integral with said base wall andextending outwardly therefrom, said base flange being located entirelybelow said top surface of the base, a handle integral with said basewall flange at either end of the base, a cover for enclosing the topsurface of said base, said cover having downwardly directed side and endwall portions providing an open bottom substantially conforming to andslightly smaller than the periphery of said base wall,. a flangeintegral with said side and end wall portions and extending generallynormal thereto and outwardly therefrom at said open bottom, said flangeat either cover end wall portion being provided with a centrallydisposed inset portion and flange extensions at either side thereof,said handles extending upwardly and outwardly from said base flangebetween said cover and wall portion flange extensions for ease ingrasping, said base flange and said cover flange engageable in facingabutting relationship to provide a vapor and air seal between saidflanges, said cover flange extensions being of a longitudinal extentgreater than the underlying portions of said base flange, the lowerinside surface of said side and end wall portions engageable with theentire base wall between the top surface of the base and the continuousflange on said base wall, the engaged surfaces of said base wall andsaid lower inside surface of said side and end wall portions beingsloped in a matching locking taper to tightly engage the cover with thebase to provide a non-shake-free fit and effective vapor and air sealbetween said engaged surfaces.

5. The container according to claim 4 wherein the top surface of saidflat top is pebbled to resist marring when perishables are cut on thesurface and to minimize movement of the perishables during cutting.

6. A vapor-tight plastic container of rectangular crosssectionalconfiguration for storing perishables and the like in a cool atmosphere,comprising a relatively rigid nondeformable rectangular base having atop surface adapted to support a perishable material a continuous anddownwardly directed base wall integral with the periphery of said topsurface, said base wall comprised of side and end wall portions whereinsaid side wall portions exceed the extent of said end wall portions byat least a ratio of 2:1, a relatively flexible rectangular cover forenclosing the top surface of said base, said cover having downwardlydirected side and end wall portions providing an open bottomsubstantially conforming to the periphery of said base wall, the engagedsurfaces of said base wall and said lower inside surface of said sideand end wall portions being sloped in a matching locking taper totightly engage the cover with the base to provide a non-shake-free fitand effective vapor and air seal between said engaged surfaces.

7. A vapor-tight plastic container for storing perishables and the likein a cool atmosphere, comprising a relatively rigid rectangular basehaving a substantially fiat top surface, a continuous and downwardlydirected wall integral with the periphery of said top surface, said basewall comprised of side and end wall portions thereof, a relativelyflexible rectangular cover for enclosing the top surface of said base,said cover having downwardly directed side and end wall portionsproviding an open bottom substantially conforming to the periphery ofsaid base wall, the open longitudinal extent between said cover endwalls at the bottom thereof being of a lesser dimension than thecorresponding longitudinal extent between said end wall portions of saidbase wall, the engaged surfaces of said base wall and said lower insidesurface of said side and end wall portions being sloped in a matchinglocking taper to tightly engage the cover with the base to provide anon-shake-free fit and effective vapor and air seal between said engagedsurfaces, and said cover end walls being resiliently outwardly urged andsaid cover side walls resiliently inwardly urged in opposition thereto.

8. The container of claim 7 wherein said side wall portions exceed theextent of said end wall portions by at least a ratio of 2:1.

9. The container of claim 8 wherein said cover side walls are normallycentrally inwardly bowed.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,589,507 6/1926 Bond. 2,780,3852/1957 Tupper 150.5 2,783,538 3/1957 Spevak 220-42 X 2,941,562 6/ 1960Ripin 220-42 X 3,055,540 9/1962 Ringlen l-.5 X

FOREIGN PATENTS 660,095 5/ 1938 Germany.

GEORGE E. LOWRANCE, Primary Examiner.

US. Cl. X.R.

1. A STORAGE CONTAINER COMPRISING A BASE HAVING A TOP SUPPORTINGSURFACE, A CONTINUOUS BASE FLANGE SURROUNDING SAID TOP SURFACE ANDEXTENDING OUTWARDLY THEREFROM, A HANDLE INTEGRAL WITH SAID FLANGE ATEITHER END OF THE BASE, A COVER FOR ENCLOSING THE TOP SURFACE OF SAIDBASE, SAID COVER HAVING DOWNWARDLY DIRECTED SIDE AND END WALL PORTIONSPROVIDING AN OPEN BOTTOM, A FLANGE INTERGRAL WITH SAID SIDE AND END WALLPORTIONS AND EXTENDING GENERALLY NORMAL THERETO AND OUTWARDLY THEREFROMAT SAID OPEN BOTTOM, SAID COVER FLANGE AT EITHER COVER END WALL PORTIONBEING PROVIDED WITH CENTRALLY DISPOSED INSET POR-